Hermetic motor compressor unit



March 22, 1966 c. a. CRAMER ETAL 3,241,748

HERMETIC MOTOR COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed July 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

IN VEN TORS.

CLAYTON B. CRAMER.

BY DAVID N. SHAW.

w zzwv ATTORNEY.

March 22, 1966 c. B. CRAMER ETAL HERME'IIC MOTOR COMPRESSOR UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1964 u I 7 N I UM H 1| 2 T3 7 7 5 7 9 7 INVENTORS. CLAYTON B. CRAMER. DAVID N. SH AW.

BYWW

FIG. 4

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent M 3,241,748 HERMETIC MOTOR COMPRESSOR UNIT Clayton B. Cramer, Bridgeport, and David N. Shaw, Liverpool, N.Y., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,139 4 Claims. (Cl. 230228) This invention relates to compression apparatus, more particularly, to reciprocating type compressor apparatus.

The over-all eificiency of compression apparatus, for example, a reciprocating compressor, is dependent upon a number of factors, one of the most significant being the breathing ability of the compressor, that is, the relative ease with which suction and discharge gases flow into and out of the compressor. The device most determinative of compressor breathing efficiency is the valve mechanism, a mechanism having valve controlled suction and discharge ports regulating ingress and egress of gas to and from the compressor. A valve mechanism which establishes, upon opening of the suction port controlled valve for example, a relatively restricted suction gas passage into the compressor reduces the breathing ability and hence the efficiency of the compressor over a like compressor having a valve mechanism capable of establishing a less restricted suction gas passage.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide new and improved compressor apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved valve mechanism for compressors which enhances the compressor breathing ability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve mechanism for compressors incorporating a unique suction or intake port configuration effective to minimize suction gas flow loss.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suction port design for compressors with a novel configuration which facilitates the flow of gas therethrough during the compressor suction stroke to increase compressor efficiency.

The invention relates to a compressor comprising in combination a valve plate having at least one suction passage therethrough, a first part of the valve plate defining one side of the suction passage having a uniform radius of curvature, a second part of the valve plate spaced radially from the first part defining an opposite side of the suction passage, the second part including concave and convex valve plate Wall portions.

The invention further relates to a fluid compressor comprising in combination at least one cylinder, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder, a rotatable crankshaft, a connecting rod operably relating the piston to the crankshaft, a cylinder head separated into suction and discharge manifolds, valve means situated between the cylinder and the head for selectively communicating the cylinder with the suction and discharge manifolds, the valve means including a plate-like member having a slot-like opening therethrough, the space between the side walls of the opening changing throughout the length of the opening.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of compressor apparatus embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in top plan of the compressor valve mechanism constructed according to this invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in bottom plan of the compressor valve mechanism constructed according to this invention; and

Patented Mar. 22, 1966 FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, numeral 1 designates generally a reciprocating compressor of the hermetic type embodying the present invention. Compressor 1 includes an outer shell or housing 3 partitioned into motor compartment 7, having motor 8 therein, and crankcase 10, having compression means 11 therein, by partition member 4.

As will be more evident hereinafter, partition member 4 in cooperation with cylinder head 14 and valve plate 15, maintains motor compartment 7 substantially sealed from crankcase 10. A crankshaft 20, suitably journaled as by hearing means 21, operatively interconnects rotor 46 of motor 8 with compression means 11.

Compression means 11 includes cylinders 25 having pistons 27 movably disposed therein. Connecting rods 29 operatively connect pistons 27 with crankshaft 20. While compression means 11 is illustrated as a multicylinder compressor, a single cylinder compressor may be contemplated.

The cylinder head 14 is separated into suction and discharge manifolds 30, 31, respectively. Valve plate 15 is fixedly secured between compressor housing 3 and partition member 4, and cylinder head 14 opposite cylinders 25. Suitable sealing means 35 may be provided between the inside face 36 of valve plate 15, housing 3 and partition member 4, and between the valve plate outside face 38 and cylinder head 14. Passages 37 in valve plate 15 communicate motor compartment 7 with cylinder head suction manifold 30. Valve plate 15 is provided with suction and discharge port means 39, 40, respectively. Suction and discharge valves 42, 43, respectively, regulate the flow of gas from cylinder head suction manifold 30 into cylinders 25 and the discharge of gas from cylinders 25 into discharge manifold 31. Opening 41 in cylinder head 14 communicates discharge manifold 31 with the area being supplied, for example, a refrigeration system.

Stator 45 of motor 8 is suitably secured within motor compartment 7. Rotor 46 has a plurality of suction gas passages 54 therethrough. Suction opening 49 communicates motor compartment 7 with a source of relatively low pressure gas. Opening 49 may be provided with a suitable filtering means 50. During compressor operation, the relatively low pressure suction gas drawn through opening 49 and filter 50 flows through motor rotor passages 54 and the space between motor stator 45 and rotor 46 into passages 37 and suction manifold 30. Gas in suction manifold 30 is drawn through port means 39 in valve plate 15 into cylinders 25 of compression means 11, relatively high pressure gas discharging through discharge port means 49 into discharge manifold 31.

Crankcase 10 serves as a sump or reservoir for lubricant. A pump mechanism (not shown) forces lubricant drawn from the crankcase sump to the several points of frictional wear throughout the compresser, for example, crankshaft bearing means 21. A lubricant overflow passage 52 is provided in partition member 4 between motor compartment 7 and crankcase compartment 10. A passage 53 in crankshaft 20, which communicates compressor crankcase compartment 10 with motor compartment 7 opposite suction gas opening 49, seryes to maintain pressures in crankcase 10 slightly higher than pressures in the motor compartment 7 between motor 8 and partition member 4.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, valve plate 15, which may be formed by casting, is preferably sized to accommodate a pair of cylinders 25 of compression means 11. It is understood that valve plate 15 may be sized to accommodate a single compressor cylinder. Discharge port means 39 comprises plural closely spaced openings 56 in valve plate 15. The outside face 38 of plate is recessed at 58 circumjacent openings 56 to define a plurality of substantially ringlike discharge valve seats 60. Discharge valve 43 formed from a suitable resilient material, for example, spring steel, and suitably fixed at one end to valve plate 15 sealingly abuts valve seats 60 to interrupt discharge openings 56. Stop 62 secured to valve plate 15 by suitable means (not shown) overlays discharge valve 43 and limits opening movement thereof.

The inner side or wall of suction port means 40 is defined by curved valve plate edge 66. Valve plate edge 66 preferably has a substantially uniform radius of curvature. Edge 67 of valve plate 15, which defines the outer side or wall of suction port means 40, has a generally sinusoidal shape with re-entrant portions 68. The axis of edge 67 is arcuate and radially spaced from inner wall 66. Inner and outer walls 66, 67, respectively, are joined at their outer ends by curved valve plate edges 69. Valve plate edges 69 preferably have a uniform radius of curvature.

A web portion 70 is preferably provided between inner and outer walls 66, 67, respectively, approximately midpoint the arcuate length of walls 66, 67. Web portion 70 separates suction port means 40 into paired openings 65. Sides 72 of web portion 70 defining the inner ends of openings 65 may be planar or slightly curved. Fillets or radii 71 may be provided between sides 72 of web portion 70 and inner and outer walls 66, 67, respectively. Face 73 of web portion 70 is spaced below the plane of inside face 36 of plate 15. This construction may be particularly seen by reference to FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

Where desired, web portion 70 may be dispensed with. By this construction, a single uninterrupted suction opening is provided in valve plate 15.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the inside face 36 of valve plate 15 is recessed at 75 circumjacent the inner, outer, and end walls 66, 67, 69, respectively, to define a substantially continuous suction valve seat 77. The contour or shape of suction valve seat 77 closely approximates the arcuate shape of inner wall 66 and end wall 69, and the sinusoidal shape of outer wall 67. Suction valve 42 formed from a suitable resilient material, for example, spring steel, and having one end suitably secured to valve plate 15, sealingly abuts suction valve seat 77 to interrupt paired openings 65. Suction valve 42 may include stop fingers 79 adapted to abut recesses 78 in cylinder wall 25.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, on downward movement of the pistons 27, the reduction in pressure in cylinders 25 draws suction gas from suction manifold 30 through suction openings between side 36 of valve plate 15 and suction valve 42 into the compressor cylinders. As the pistons 27 move upwardly on the compression stroke, suction valve 42 closes and discharge valve 43 opens to discharge relatively high pressure gas through discharge openings 56 into discharge manifold 31.

Applicants have provided an improved valve mechanism for compressors incorporating a unique suction port configuration which materially reduces pressure losses in the stream of gas passing therethrough to the compressor cylinder; a valve mechanism which substantially increases the breathing ability of compressors and correspondingly over-all compressor operating efliciency.

While applicants have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a compressor, the combination of a valve plate having at least one slot-like passage therethrough, said plate including a first part curved to delineate a generally convex first wall of said passage, and a second part curved to delineate an opposing second wall of said passage having alternate convex and concave wall segments, the number of concave wall segments being one greater than the number of convex wall segments, said second wall concave and convex wall segments cooperating with said first wall to define alternate enlarged and reduced passage widths throughout the length of said slot-like passage.

2. A compressor according to claim 1 in which the parts of said valve plate between the terminal ends of said first and second walls are concave.

3. A compressor according to claim 1 in which said valve plate second part delineates three convex wall segments, said valve plate including a web part joining the second of said convex wall segments with the portion of said passage first wall opposite thereto to separate said slot-like passage into paired ports.

4. A compressor according to claim 1 in which the shape of said valve plate second wall is substantially sinusoidal, the mean axis of said second wall being concave.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 788,337 4/1905 Slick 230229 1,619,481 3/1927 Oakes 230229 X 2,089,630 8/1937 Teeter 230-229 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examin 

1. IN A COMPRESSOR, THE COMBINATION OF A VALVE PLATE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SLOT-LIKE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, SAID PLATE INCLUDING A FIRST PART CURVED TO DELINEATE A GENERALLY CONVEX FIRST WALL OF SAID PASSAGE, AND A SECOND PART CURVED TO DELINEATE AN OPPOSING SECOND WALL OF SAID PASSAGE HAVING ALTERNATE CONVEX AND CONCAVE WALL SEGMENTS, THE NUMBER OF CONCAVE WALL SEGMENTS BEING ONE GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF CONVEX WALL SEGMENTS, SAID SECOND WALL CONCAVE AND CONVEX WALL SEGMENTS COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST WALL TO DEFINE ALTERNATE ENLARGED AND REDUCED PASSAGE WIDTHS THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOT-LIKE PASSAGE. 